What's happening in week 20

At a glance

You might experience some aching as your bump grows and your womb stretches

Try a pregnancy pillow for support if you feel uncomfortable when you sleep

How big is my baby at 20 weeks?

By week 20, your baby will now measure around 16.5cm long, head to rump and around 25cm from head to heel. They are around the size of a banana and growing quickly!

If space allows, they are still having fun turning somersaults, and perhaps still taking you by surprise as they do so.

Although they are mainly just growing bigger and stronger now, there are some key elements of their development going on as the nerves in their brain which control the senses are still forming, eventually enabling them to smell, see, hear, taste and touch.

They will also start producing Meconium in their bowel. This is a harmless mixture of amniotic fluid that your baby has swallowed, digestive secretion and dead skin cells that will form your baby’s first bowel movement after birth.

You at 20 weeks pregnant

You might experience some aching in your tummy as your bump continues to grow – this is due to the ligaments each side of your womb stretching as your baby gets bigger and bigger. It is perfectly normal, but as with everything, do mention it to your midwife if you are worried.

Some women develop pains in their pelvis called pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PRGP) or symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD) when pregnant (again, not dangerous, just uncomfortable) which can be treated with physio or support girdles – see our page on SPD for more info about this.

Your bump might mean you are struggling to get comfy in bed at this stage too, and so you could be feeling tired because of interrupted sleep. You can buy specially shaped pregnancy pillows to help support your bump and enable you to get a good night's rest (many of these are also useful post-pregnancy for breastfeeding), or simply to offer you more support when you are sitting or chilling on the sofa.

What to think about in week 20

If you have pets you might be wondering how to best introduce them to your new baby when the time comes, or how to successfully designate certain areas of the house pet free! Of course, your animals should never be left alone with your baby, or have access to their pram or cot, but you can take steps to additionally protect your little one from inquisitive pets.

Nets that go over your Moses basket or cot are easily available on the high street, and baby gates have a plethora of uses which are not just restricted to keeping toddlers away from stairs!

Chat with your vet for professional advice on prepping your dog or cat for your new arrival – although as long as basic common sense and safety is applied, you should all manage just fine!